***OFFICIAL*** Steelers 2012 Thread (2 Viewers)

[Kenny Powers]

With how all the OG/OT prospects have seemed to fly off the board the last 4-5 years, leaving us with none to even consider, its mindblowing that a guy as talented as Decastro dropped to us. Thanks to all the other teams trying to find that DE/OLB pass rusher that let Decastro slide to us

 

[The Lung]

If we can get Coby Fleener or Dwayne Allen in Round 2 then my head just might explode

 

[Class Dismissed]

Love this comment in another board;

Ugh, ****ing Steelers. I hate how they do everything right.

 

[3C's]

If we can get Coby Fleener or Dwayne Allen in Round 2 then my head just might explode

What?

 

[Kenny Powers]

If we can get Coby Fleener or Dwayne Allen in Round 2 then my head just might explode

What?

With a name like the lung, Im guessing he smoked some really good #### tonight

 

[Frenchy Fuqua]

Charley Casserly just made DeCastro his "Golden Corral Value Pick of the Day". Said DeCastro is ahead of the great Alan Faneca coming out of college. Big statement.

 

[flapgreen]

Steelers are a team that has always gotten it. Meanwhile, the Bears will continue to be a failure for the rest of my life. Congrats, Steelers fans. I envy being a fan of a successful franchise.

 

[The Hank]

Just got back from the bar boys, holy ####, what a tremendous pick by our Steelers.

Now if we grab a DT in 2nd, we can go BPA in the draft and reload.

IB is conspicuously missing, I would like to hear his thoughts

 

[H8fulHuck]

Just got back from the bar boys, holy ####, what a tremendous pick by our Steelers.Now if we grab a DT in 2nd, we can go BPA in the draft and reload.IB is conspicuously missing, I would like to hear his thoughts

Pretty sure IB is busy sewing Decastro's name on the back of his old Faneca jersey right now.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Cordy Glenn for the other G spot on day 2 anyone?

 

[Kenny Powers]

Cordy Glenn for the other G spot on day 2 anyone?

We should trade up for someone, I love Glenn myself. I dont think itd be too steep to move up to #40 or anything.

 

[Steeler]

DeCastro pick was a no-brainer

“Before the draft,” said Colbert, “we identified several players we’d trade up to get, and (DeCastro) was one of them. I’ll leave it at that. With every pick the odds increase. When we picked, there was a nice group. We would have been happy with three or four guys who were available at our pick. Really, a better group presented itself than we thought would, but he was one we had identified as a possibility to trade up to get.”

 

[Uruk-Hai]

Ravens miss on their targets... trade down.

Smart move by Ozzy.....wish we would do that when our targets are gone.

Agreed. I think NE trading up to take Hightower made up Ozzie's mind to move back. He only lost 6 spots and - with TB & NYG taking RBs at the end of RD 1 - several players are avaiable that would be good fits for the Ravens that they probably would've chosen from had they stayed put.Anyway, great pick by the Steelers in getting DeCastro. It's sweet when need and BPA come together, isn't it? The Ravens have had a few of those (Rice, Ngata).

 

[Godsbrother]

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Idiot Boxer must be in heaven!

 

[Corky]

Idiot Boxer is serving out a short time out. I assure you he is extremely excited.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

CAREER NOTES

DeCastro started all 39 games he played in at right offensive guard for the Stanford Cardinal…Finished his stellar career with 316 knockdowns, 68 touchdown-resulting blocks and a blocking consistency grade of 91.63%...His grade of 96.88% in 2011 was the highest mark by any offensive lineman (since consistency grades were kept in 1985) in Pac-12 Conference history.

2011 SEASON

DeCastro was a first-team All-American first-team selection by The NFL Draft Report, Walter Camp, Associated Press, Sporting News, American Football Coaches Association and Football Writers Association…Named National Blocker of the Year by The NFL Draft Report, as DeCastro set the conference season-record with a 96.88% grade for blocking consistency…The All-Pac 12 Conference first-team choice and Outland Trophy finalist registered career-bests with 31 touchdown-resulting blocks (second-highest in the major college ranks) while recording 138 knockdowns…Behind his stellar blocking, the front wall allowed just eleven quarterback sacks, but none were charged to DeCastro, who held his blocking assignments to a nation-low total of fourteen tackles (6 solos), no sacks, no pressures and no stops behind the line of scrimmage…Had at least ten knockdowns in nine games and received a perfect grade for blocking consistency (100%) twice – vs. Colorado and Washington…Stanford's 57-3 season opening victory over San Jose State was the result of DeCastro making three touchdown-resulting blocks and twelve knockdowns, including one that took down three defenders on a 23-yard scoring scamper by Stephan Taylor…Added two touchdown-resulting blocks, including one that upended defensive tackle Conrad Obi on a 1-yard scoring plunge by Taylor, as DeCastro graded 100% vs. Colorado…His second perfect score for the season came behind fourteen knockdowns and a record five touch-down resulting blocks vs. Washington, as the right guard flattened All-Pac 12 defensive tackle Alameda Te’Amu on a 45-yard reverse for a score by receiver Chris Owusu. It also marked the first time that Te’Amu was held to no statistics in a game (spanning 39 contests).

Amazing resume! Can't believe Colbert didn't pull the trigger to trade up for him once he got close.His blocking assignments only had 14 tackles in a season and none for a loss? That can't be correct can it?

Seems impossible, right?Was it Big Steel Thrill that first turned me on to this guy in this very thread? I watch very little west coast NCAA ball and was pimping Ta'Amu based on the Holiday Bowl game in which he dominated Nebraska. I think it was BST that told me about this G from Stanford that manhandle Ta'Amu all over the field despite giving up 35 pounds. I found it so hard to believe that I started digging up anything I could on the guy. The more I read, the more I was floored.

The last guy I wanted this badly that I thought had little to no chance of dropping to Pittsburgh was Big Ben. I was so happy when they drafted him that my (then girlfriend, now) wife started to worry about me and the depth of my commitment to a football team. I'm not sure if I was happier last night or not, but I do know it was very close. Luckily this time, she was asleep.

 

[Sheriff66]

Wow, DeCastro falls into our lap, just what the doctor ordered

 

[Evilgrin 72]

Idiot Boxer is serving out a short time out. I assure you he is extremely excited.

This is the absolute perfect round 1 pick. When making a first-round pick, I always look for the following :1) Is the guy the best available player on the board, regardless of position?2) Does the guy represent value at the spot in which you're picking?3) Does the guy address an area of need?4) Is the guy a high-motor, high-character guy with low bust potential?5) Does the guy suit the team in terms of his skill set and intangibles?If you can say yes to all 5, that's a terrific pick. It's very difficult to give a resounding yes on all 5, especially at pick #24. It's rare that the guy is going to be high-value, BPA, and solve a need at that spot unless there are character red flags. With DeCastro, it's less "yes" and more "HELL yes" on all 5. It's literally the perfect pick.

 

[treat88]

It's literally the perfect pick.

100%.Now, if the Rat's don't get Upshaw...couldn't have gone any better.Both CLE/CIN came out of the first with less talent than I expected and BAL missed on the top tier talent all together.

 

[The Hank]

Idiot Boxer is serving out a short time out. I assure you he is extremely excited.

This is the absolute perfect round 1 pick. When making a first-round pick, I always look for the following :1) Is the guy the best available player on the board, regardless of position?2) Does the guy represent value at the spot in which you're picking?3) Does the guy address an area of need?4) Is the guy a high-motor, high-character guy with low bust potential?5) Does the guy suit the team in terms of his skill set and intangibles?If you can say yes to all 5, that's a terrific pick. It's very difficult to give a resounding yes on all 5, especially at pick #24. It's rare that the guy is going to be high-value, BPA, and solve a need at that spot unless there are character red flags. With DeCastro, it's less "yes" and more "HELL yes" on all 5. It's literally the perfect pick.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Was it Big Steel Thrill

Don't believe it was me. Sounds like a Lammey moment perhaps.I wouldnt have ever thought Decastro would have been possible, without a trade, in a million years.That massive run on pass rushers leading to our pick was awesome.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

Was it Big Steel Thrill

Don't believe it was me. Sounds like a Lammey moment perhaps.I wouldnt have ever thought Decastro would have been possible, without a trade, in a million years.That massive run on pass rushers leading to our pick was awesome.

The Bengal trade down was the key, IMO. No idea what they were thinking. Guess they must think Zeitler and DeCastro are "thisclose" in terms of talent? They are wrong.Totally not expected, but I will take a happy accident that lands us a player like DeCastro. My only misgiving was that the Ravens were going to get Hightower....but NE eliminated that(of course, I'd rather he didn't go to NE either, but Baltimore would have been worse).Looking forward to this evening. Two of any of the following 3 positions would make me a happy panda: ILB/NG/OL. As to Ta'amu....I guess I'm in the minority here. I don't really like the guy for Pittsburgh. He's more of a penetrating 4-3 UT than immovable, double-team controlling NG. If we're gunning for a true NG I want Chapman. All he needs is health. We already know that he can command the LOS and control/beat doubles when he is right.

 

[treat88]

Give me any of:

1) Lavonte David

2) Amini Silatolu

3) Brandon Brooks

4) Josh Chapman

Probably just getting greedy after the DD pick.

Regardless the other teams in the league have put us in line to net a very good player at 56. Keep it up boys!

 

[Corky]

I'll take Jerel Worthy or Kendall Reyes...but I doubt either is falling far enough...same for Cordy Glenn or Johnathan Martin.

I like Mychal Kendricks but I think he's more of an early 3rd round talent. Maybe trade back and get him still.

 

[JoeSteeler]

By Associated Press, Updated: Thursday, April 26, 10:48 PM



PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers are getting serious when it comes to protecting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

The Steelers selected Stanford All-American offensive guard David DeCastro with the 24th overall pick in the NFL Draft on Thursday, hoping to shore up a unit that failed to keep Roethlisberger healthy last season.

“We really we didn’t think David would be there at 24 quite honestly,” general manager Kevin Colbert said. “We valued him that high. We said there was a few special players in this draft, and he was one of them.”

The 6-foot-5, 316-pound DeCastro started 39 games in three seasons with the Cardinal and was an All-American after his junior season last fall. DeCastro helped Stanford finish seventh in the country in fewest sacks allowed in 2011 while blocking for quarterback Andrew Luck.

Though he played at right guard, coach Mike Tomlin believes DeCastro can play at either spot. He will compete with veterans Ramon Foster, Doug Legursky and Trai Essex for a starting job.

Colbert said the pro-style offense run at Stanford should help DeCastro make a quick transition to the NFL. Though he was a solid pass protector — not giving up a sack or a pressure as a junior — the Steelers think DeCastro is even more effective run blockling.

“When you watch this team (Stanford) run the football 80 percent of the time David Decastro was leading the way,” Tomlin said. “This kid’s an exceptional player.”

DeCastro is the second offensive lineman drafted in the first round by the Steelers in the last three years. They took center Maurkice Pouncey in the 2010 Draft, and the former Florida star made the Pro Bowl as a rookie. Pittsburgh also took tackle Marcus Gilbert in the second round last year.

Pittsburgh allowed 42 sacks last year, ninth most in the league, and Roethlisberger took a beating at times, missing action late in the season with an ankle injury suffered against the Cleveland Browns that limited him down the stretch.

 

[The Hank]

Here are my targets for rd 2-3 (in no particular order)[*Pipedream/trade up candidates]

DEFENSE

ILB Mychal Kendricks

ILB Lavonte David*

NT Alameda Ta'amu

DT Devon Still

DT Jerel Worthy*

DT Akiem Hicks (3rd)

OFFENSE

OG Keleche Osemele

OG Amini Silatolu

OG/OT Cordy Glenn*

OT Jonathon Martin*

RB Isaiah Pead

RB Lamar Miller

TE Coby Fleener*

WR Stephen Hill*

 

[EBF]

Not really a Steelers fan, but love the way this team works the first round of the draft.

Every year it's the same thing. Sit back and poach whichever Pro Bowler inexplicably falls to your spot.

Seen a lot of Stanford games the last three years and I think you got a good one in De Castro. He's for real and his personality is a perfect fit too.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

David DeCastro's consistency grade of 96.88 percent last season was the highest in Pac-10/Pac-12 history, and that statistic has been tracked since 1985.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

Just to continue the DeCastro stroke-a-thon...

DeCastro was very impressive at the Scouting Combine. Whenever he was interviewed, he was able to go up to the white board and draw up the Stanford offense like he was quarterback Andrew Luck.

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” one head coach told me. “He drew up all of their favorite plays and explained what Luck was looking at on every play.”

 

[BigSteelThrill]

David DeCastro's consistency grade of 96.88 percent last season was the highest in Pac-10/Pac-12 history, and that statistic has been tracked since 1985.

Who are the contemporaries you might ask?Here are ALL of the PAC-10/12 offensive linemen since 1985 that have earned a PRO BOWL (+3 extra denoted with the *)...

Jonathan Ogden

Randalll Mcdaniel

Tony Boselli

Tarik Glenn

Olin Kreutz

Marvel Smith

Bob Whitfield

Lincoln Kennedy

Todd Steussie

Mike Flanagan

Ryan Kalil

Alex Mack

Sam Baker*

Levi Jones*

Tyron Smith*

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

David DeCastro's consistency grade of 96.88 percent last season was the highest in Pac-10/Pac-12 history, and that statistic has been tracked since 1985.

:lhuckzbatsignal:

 

[belljr]

I get more excited when reading about him!!!

 

[JoeSteeler]

anyone know his wonderlic score?

 

[Kenny Powers]

DeCastro pick was a no-brainer

“Before the draft,” said Colbert, “we identified several players we’d trade up to get, and (DeCastro) was one of them. I’ll leave it at that. With every pick the odds increase. When we picked, there was a nice group. We would have been happy with three or four guys who were available at our pick. Really, a better group presented itself than we thought would, but he was one we had identified as a possibility to trade up to get.”

The bolded tells me why they ended up not trading up, but based on the last sentence I cant comprehend why they didnt move up to 20-23 to get Decastro. Hindsight is 20/20 and that 20-30 minutes of seeing if he fell to us was about as intense as anything I can remember with the draft. If Decastro was one of those 10 players that Colbert/Steelers thought was a cant miss guy (which it appears he was), why didnt we assure ourselves of getting him by moving up?! He wouldve been a perfect fit for DET and that wouldve been a heartbreaker despite that we still wouldve got Hightower, Glenn, Martin, etc.Oh well, we got him so Im probably overthinking this but I question the strategy and really wouldve questioned it if we didnt get him.

 

[Corky]

DeCastro pick was a no-brainer

“Before the draft,” said Colbert, “we identified several players we’d trade up to get, and (DeCastro) was one of them. I’ll leave it at that. With every pick the odds increase. When we picked, there was a nice group. We would have been happy with three or four guys who were available at our pick. Really, a better group presented itself than we thought would, but he was one we had identified as a possibility to trade up to get.”

The bolded tells me why they ended up not trading up, but based on the last sentence I cant comprehend why they didnt move up to 20-23 to get Decastro. Hindsight is 20/20 and that 20-30 minutes of seeing if he fell to us was about as intense as anything I can remember with the draft. If Decastro was one of those 10 players that Colbert/Steelers thought was a cant miss guy (which it appears he was), why didnt we assure ourselves of getting him by moving up?! He wouldve been a perfect fit for DET and that wouldve been a heartbreaker despite that we still wouldve got Hightower, Glenn, Martin, etc.Oh well, we got him so Im probably overthinking this but I question the strategy and really wouldve questioned it if we didnt get him.

I think once Cincy traded out, they knew they could get either DeCastro or Reiff. I definitely prefer DeCastro, but if Reiff was one of their 'trade up' guys too, then I get the thinking. The Cincy trade was the key.

 

[toenail_23]

I get more excited when reading about him!!!

It almost felt like Christmas morning as a kid last night. Getting that present you wanted all year long.

 

[Cookiemonster]

anyone know his wonderlic score?

Judging by the draft reviews and scouting reports, I'd guess somewhere in the 55-60 range.

 

[Kenny Powers]

It's literally the perfect pick.

100%.Now, if the Rat's don't get Upshaw...couldn't have gone any better.Both CLE/CIN came out of the first with less talent than I expected and BAL missed on the top tier talent all together.

Sounds like Indy's pick is going to be either Upshaw or Fleener. Pagano is high on Upshaw. The Rams #33 pick is a real wildcard considering they have 3 of the first 13 picks, but I dont think they'd take Upshaw.Really liked both CLE and CIN's first picks (though feel bad for Richardson because he's doomed out there), but CLE taking Weeden there instead of 37th and CIN passing on Decastro only to take a far inferior OG makes me feel all warm inside.

 

[Kenny Powers]

Totally not expected, but I will take a happy accident that lands us a player like DeCastro. My only misgiving was that the Ravens were going to get Hightower....but NE eliminated that(of course, I'd rather he didn't go to NE either, but Baltimore would have been worse).

Yeah, NE and BAL were the last 2 teams I wanted to see get Hightower, but Id much rather he go to NE, especially considering their window is getting smaller as Brady ages. What is he, 34 or 35 now? That said, Im kind of surprised NE took him since they already have Mayo and Spikes. Something going on there?!

Looking forward to this evening. Two of any of the following 3 positions would make me a happy panda: ILB/NG/OL. As to Ta'amu....I guess I'm in the minority here. I don't really like the guy for Pittsburgh. He's more of a penetrating 4-3 UT than immovable, double-team controlling NG. If we're gunning for a true NG I want Chapman. All he needs is health. We already know that he can command the LOS and control/beat doubles when he is right.

I like Chapman as well. He should be there in the 4th round though, right? Maybe have to trade up in the 4th, but I think we will be trading up in either 1 of the rounds tonight or the 4th.

 

[Kenny Powers]

Here are my targets for rd 2-3 (in no particular order)[*Pipedream/trade up candidates]DEFENSEILB Mychal KendricksILB Lavonte David*NT Alameda Ta'amuDT Devon StillDT Jerel Worthy*DT Akiem Hicks (3rd)OFFENSEOG Keleche OsemeleOG Amini SilatoluOG/OT Cordy Glenn*OT Jonathon Martin*RB Isaiah PeadRB Lamar MillerTE Coby Fleener*WR Stephen Hill*

Nice list. Barring a trade up (which Id totally be on board with), the only guys that I think will realistically be available at 56 are Kendricks, Ta'Amu, Still, Osemele, and Pead. Id add Bobby Massie but he probably wont be around either. I hope they arent hesitant to go with another OL pick after DeCastro.I think Im starting to hope we take Pead or LaMichael James in the 3rd.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

anyone know his wonderlic score?

31

 

[Evilgrin 72]

DeCastro pick was a no-brainer

“Before the draft,” said Colbert, “we identified several players we’d trade up to get, and (DeCastro) was one of them. I’ll leave it at that. With every pick the odds increase. When we picked, there was a nice group. We would have been happy with three or four guys who were available at our pick. Really, a better group presented itself than we thought would, but he was one we had identified as a possibility to trade up to get.”

The bolded tells me why they ended up not trading up, but based on the last sentence I cant comprehend why they didnt move up to 20-23 to get Decastro. Hindsight is 20/20 and that 20-30 minutes of seeing if he fell to us was about as intense as anything I can remember with the draft. If Decastro was one of those 10 players that Colbert/Steelers thought was a cant miss guy (which it appears he was), why didnt we assure ourselves of getting him by moving up?! He wouldve been a perfect fit for DET and that wouldve been a heartbreaker despite that we still wouldve got Hightower, Glenn, Martin, etc.Oh well, we got him so Im probably overthinking this but I question the strategy and really wouldve questioned it if we didnt get him.

I read today that they had explored the possibility of moving up, but ultimately didn't. Not sure if they decided to gamble or just thought the cost of moving up was prohibitive, but it worked out beautifully in the end.

 

[Drunken Cowboy]

DeCastro pick was a no-brainer

“Before the draft,” said Colbert, “we identified several players we’d trade up to get, and (DeCastro) was one of them. I’ll leave it at that. With every pick the odds increase. When we picked, there was a nice group. We would have been happy with three or four guys who were available at our pick. Really, a better group presented itself than we thought would, but he was one we had identified as a possibility to trade up to get.”

The bolded tells me why they ended up not trading up, but based on the last sentence I cant comprehend why they didnt move up to 20-23 to get Decastro. Hindsight is 20/20 and that 20-30 minutes of seeing if he fell to us was about as intense as anything I can remember with the draft. If Decastro was one of those 10 players that Colbert/Steelers thought was a cant miss guy (which it appears he was), why didnt we assure ourselves of getting him by moving up?! He wouldve been a perfect fit for DET and that wouldve been a heartbreaker despite that we still wouldve got Hightower, Glenn, Martin, etc.Oh well, we got him so Im probably overthinking this but I question the strategy and really wouldve questioned it if we didnt get him.

I read today that they had explored the possibility of moving up, but ultimately didn't. Not sure if they decided to gamble or just thought the cost of moving up was prohibitive, but it worked out beautifully in the end.

I think it was about who else was there.

 

[Kenny Powers]

DeCastro has me more excited for tonight than I think I wouldve otherwise been. 1 more hour till the party starts!

 

[toenail_23]

DeCastro Press Conference

 

[Kenny Powers]

Now, if the Rat's don't get Upshaw...couldn't have gone any better.

Oh well

 

[by_the_sea_wannabe]

Now, if the Rat's don't get Upshaw...couldn't have gone any better.

Oh well

sucks pretty hard

 

[Evilgrin 72]

Damn, I like Kendricks.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

Damn, I like Kendricks.

We were a good 10+ picks away. Was gonna tough.

 

[Kenny Powers]

Worthy and Still dropping...Undersized no doubt as NT's but could they work?!